Interlocking machine for railroads



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, 1936. W. K. HOW'E INTERLOCKING MACHINE FORRAILROADS Filed July 25, 1929 Y Y .mv

`une 2, 1936. W. K. HOWE 2,042,659

INTERLOCKING MACHINE Fon RAILROADS .Filed July 25, 1929 3 sheets-sheet 2FIGZ.

June 2, 1936.` w. K. HOWE 2,042,659

' .INTERLOCKING MACHINE FOR RAILROADS Filed July 25, 1929 3'sheets-sheet s IVETOR Patented June 2, 1936 PATENT OFFICE INTERLOCKINGMACHINE FOR RAILROADS Winthrop K. Howe, Rochester, N. Y., assigner toGeneral Railway Signal Company, Rochester,

Application July 23, 1929, Serial No. 380,418

22 Claims.

This invention relates to interlocking systems for railroads, and moreparticularly pertains to interlocking machines used therein.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a compact organizationof interlocking control devices, which are grouped into what is commonlyknown as an interlocking machine, in such a manner, that all controldevices are easily accessible for inspection, adjustment and repair.Also, it is a further object cf this invention to provide aninterlocking machine having control levers movable in a reciprocatingmanner, and employing the so called latch locking principle, that is,that type of lever, in which the lever is locked in extreme positions bya lever latch, which in turn is locked by the usual mechanicalinterlocking between levers. A further object of the invention is toprovide a mechanical Vstick type push button circuit controller, whichis used in conjunction with certain signal' control levers for operatinga call-on signal associated with the signal governed by that particularcontrol lever.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic feaf tures of the presentinvention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out as adescription of the accompanying drawings progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters in the severaligures refer to the same objects, and in Which:-

Fig. 1 is an end View of an interlocking machine as included within thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View of the interlocking machine shown in Fig.1, showing the arrangement of levers, the indication lights and the pushbutton controls;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanical stick type push buttoncircuit controller as included within the present invention;

Fig'. 4 is a section of an interlocking control lever as included withinthe present invention, being taken on lines 4-4 of Fig` 5;

Fig. 5 is a top View of the interlocking lever shown in Fig. 4.

With reference to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the various controldevices, control levers and electromagnetic devices associated with onecontrol lever of an interlocking machine. It is of course understoodthat a complete interlocking machine is composed of a plurality ofsimilar control levers which have similar parts and control devicesassociated with each lever, but it is deemed unnecessary to show anddescribe more than those devices and functions associated with oneparticular control lever. machine of the present invention may be usedin any well known interlocking system arrangement, one of which is fullydescribed in my Patent No. 1,550,611, dated August 18, 1925.

With reference to Fig. 1, the interlocking machine of the presentinvention has been shown as having two vertical bed sections, and onehorizontal bed section, that is, the various members which lie in alongitudinal direction in respect to the interlocking machine as awhole, and furnish a support for the various control devices, may beconveniently termed bed members. These bed sections of the interlockingmachine are supported by three part frames, that are equally spacedthroughout'the length of the interlocking machine, which frame work iscomposed of front leg members I back leg members 3, and cross members 2-0n each cross member 2, dowel pins 4 and 5 are furnished for aligningthe crossv members 2 with their respective leg members I and 3, whichmembers are.V securely fastened in place by bolts 6 and nuts 1.

The left hand vertical bed is composed. of bed membersv 8, 9, I0, andlI, which connect the leg memberv I (see Fig. 1) with the next similarleg member tnot shown)l placed at a certain predetermined number oflevers through the length of. the interlocking machine. 'I'hese bedmembers 8, 9, lll, and H furnish supporting means for sections of themechanical interlocking plates I3, I4 and I5, which plates serve asguides for the usual tappet bars, locking bars, and locking dogs.

A. bed member I6, composed of equally spaced guiding slots for thecontrol levers, such as lever L, is mounted upon the frame cross member'2` (see Fig. l) and the next succeeding frame crossA member (notshown). The indication latch mechanism I'I is mounted beneath the bedmem-- ber I6, being supported at the left (see Fig. 1) by bed member 8Yand supported. at the right by a wedge member 20, which is secured inposition by a bolt and nut I9. Such a manner of mounting for the latchmechanism I'I, permits each unit to be detached separately whendesirable. This latch mechanism Il is constructed in a manner to preventthe control lever L with which it is associated, from being movedtoextreme positions until the latch mechanism II has been acted upon bythe energization of the indication magnet I8.

Mounted upon the upper side of the bed member I6' is the force drop lock2|, which has a solenoid capable, when energized, of raising a lockingdog (not shown) which normally engages: the lever L td lock it incertain predeter- The interlocking mined positions. This locking dog isforced into its locking positions by the movement of the lever L to anynew position.

A mechanical stick type push button circuit controller 22 is mounted onthe upper side of the bed member |6, in such a manner, that the controllever L which is associated with it, is directly beneath it, and thecoacting operation of said circuit controller will be describedhereinafter.

The horizontal bed section is further composed of bed members 23, 24,25, 26, 21, 28, and 29, which also connect the frame cross member 2 withthe next succeeding frame cross member (not shown) and serve as supportsfor the various control devices. A suitable circuit controller 30, suchfor example as described in my Patent No. 1,506,179, dated August 26,1924, is mounted upon the bed members 23 and 24, and is operated by thelever L in the usual reciprocating manner. The bed member 25 is formedof wood or other suitable insulating material, and serves as asupporting means for the indication selector 3|. This indicationselector 3| may be any suitable type of selectonone type of which isshown in my above mentioned Patent No. 1,550,611. The bed members 26 and21 are also composed of wood or other suitable insulating material andare mounted upon the frame cross member 2 in conjunction with a bracketmember 61 in such a manner that an L-shaped mountingis formed for thevarious polarized crossprotection relays' 32, which may be of anysuitable type, one of which is disclosed in the patent to J. C. Lindner,No. 1,676,340, dated July 10, 1928. At the extreme right of theinterlocking machine, the bed members 28 and 29 serve as supports forsuitable fuse blocks 33 having the usual terminals and such othermodifications as go therewith.

The leg members 3 serve as supports for the right handvertical bedsection which is composed of bed members 34, 35, and 36, having an'- gleiron' shape, and to which certain circuit controllers of the variouslevers may be attached. Theparticular circuit controller shown in Fig.1, is` one of the reciprocating type having a terminal board 31 uponwhich are mounted suitable contacts 38,'which at certain times areinterconnected by metal rings 39 mounted upon theslidable rod 46 andinsulated therefrom.

i The rod 40 is slidably mounted by support members 4| in such a mannerthat it may be `controlled in a vertical direction by movement ofa leverarm 42. This lever arm 42 is mountedat a pivot point 43 upon a suitablebed member 44 and is interconnected with the lever VL by a pin 45 whichslides in a slot in lever L to rock the lever 42 upon its pivot point4,3. This rocking movement of lever 42 is transformed into reciprocatingmotion of the rod 40 by the interconnection of rod 4|] with lever 42 bya link 46.,.Also, the terminal boards 41 and 48 are mounted upon theinside of the frame leg members I, which mounting is made possible bythe characteristic manner'in which the interlocking machine of thepresent invention is supported and arranged.

It will be noted that the frame leg membersv and 3 are supported byI-beams 49 and 50 running lengthwise of the interlocking machine. TheseI-bearnsg49 and 50 are placed at the edge of a suitableV pit ordepression within the floor of the interlocking tower, which providesample space for an electrician or maintainer to inspect and takereadings of voltage and current values along the terminal boards 41 and48, remove indication latch mechanisms, or do any other inspection orrepair work which might be required beneath such an interlockingmachine.

It will be noted, that the machine is suitably covered with an inclosingframework, which in this lcase is composed of wooden panels` '65 and isprovided at certain advantageous "places with glass panels 66, so thatvarious inspections can be made Without opening the panels. However, assuch renements are not a part of the present invention, they Will not bedescribed in detail. Y

With reference to Figs. l and 2, the indicator lamps 5| are shown, whichlamps have numbers formed thereon, designating the number of the leverabove which it is located. It will also be noted, that the handle gripsof alternate levers rare pointing downward, and the remaining levers arepointing upward, which facilitates making the various levers accessibleto control by an operator. Also associated with each `lever are theindicator lights 52 and 53 used for suitable indication purposes, andalso a push button 54 which governs the operation of the mechanicalstick type contact control 22.

In Fig. 3 is shown in detail a mechanical stick type circuit controllerV22 associated with the 30 lever L and the push button 54. As heretoforestated, the frame 22 of the mechanical stick type circuit controller ismounted on the bed member I6 and furnishes a guiding support for the rod55, which transmits the motion of push button 54 to the various contactsof the contactor by compressing coil spring 56, forcing a link 51against a contact support 58, which is pivoted on pin 59 attached to thefixed contact support 69, which is also mounted upon the main frame 22of the mechanical stick type contacter.

A cam member 6| is mounted upon the lever L, in such a manner, that aplunger 62 is forced upward biasing a coil spring 63. With the plunger62 forced to an upper extreme position, a projection 62b on the plunger62 fits into the circular slot 55a cut into the rod member 55. Nowitwill be noted, if the lever L is moved to the left, to an intermediateposition, the cam member 6| is also moved to the left and allows thecoil spring 63 to force the plunger 62 in a downward direction, tounlock 55, land when lever L is moved further, to its otherextremeposition, if the push button 54 is depressed, the motion will betransmitted through the rod 55 biasing coil spring 56,

until slot 55'f1 is opposite a projection 62a which is forced into saidslot 55a. Thus, the push button 54 is locked in a depressed position,until the lever L is again moved to the right, to its intermediateposition, at which time the cam member 6| will force the plunger 62 inan upward direction releasing the rod 55.

The motion which is transmitted to the movable contact support 58controls contact ngers 64 to engage with certain fixed contacts 10 and1| for controlling suitable circuits thereby.

Such a mechanical stick type contacter is associated with certain signallevers for controlling `a"ca1lon` signal associated with a particularsignal, so that, if the main signal is controlled to a reverse or clearcondition in the interlocking tower, butis prevented from assuming thatcondition because of occupancy of its track section, or the like, thenthe call-on signal may be cleared by depression of a push button, Suchas push button 5t. A call-on` signal cannot remain cleared unless thesignal lever with which it is associated, is maintained in a reverse orcleared position. Thus, the movement of the main signal lever to a stopor normal position automatically releases the rod 55 and allows thespring 56 to control the call-on signal to a stop or normal condition.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the lever L is shown as composed oi two lever membersL2L and Lb. The lever member Le is a casting having a hollow portion forcontaining various movable parts and is suitably connected to the levermember Lb which is of solid bar construction. The lever member Lb fitsWithin the guiding slots provided in the bed member |6, thus supportingthe lever member Le which forms the handle grip controlled by theoperator.

Within the lever member La, a latch member 12 is pivotally attached tothe lever member Le by a pin 13, and is controlled to an extreme biasedposition as shown in Fig. 4 by a coil spring 14 the tension of which isadjustable by a screw 15. This lever latch 12 lhas a slot 12a Withinwhich a square movable pivot member 88 may slide. Two levers 16 and 11are pivotally mounted upon support members 18 and 19, which supportmembers are suitably attached to the bed member I6 (see Fig. l). Theselevers 16 and 11 are placed on opposite sides of the lever member Lf:L(see Fig. 5) so that their extreme ends may be pivotally attached to themovable pivot member 80. In order that the square movable pivot membermay interconnect the levers 16 and 11 a slot Lc is provided in thecasing of lever member Lb, which slot Lc extends in a direction parallelwith, the direction of the lever L and at each end has portions eX-tending at right angles to the direction of the lever L.. With the leverL in the position as shown in Fig. 4, the pivot member 8|) is in theleft hand vertical portion of the slot Lc due to the bias of coil spring14, thus preventing the movement of the lever L. The slotr 12a does notcoincide with the slot Lc until the latch 12 has been manuallycompressed, at' which time, the movable pivot member 80 disengages thelever L so that it may be moved in a left hand direction. When the leverL has been moved to the reverse position the latch 12 may be released,at which time the pivot member 80 is moved upward into the right handvertical portion of the slot Lc. It will now be seen that the lever Lcannot be moved from either extreme position until the lever latch 12has been operated so that the slot 12B coincides with the slot L0, thuscausing the movable pivot member 88 to disengage the lever L.

It will now be noted that the pivot member BIJ assumes a lower extremeposition, with the lever Lin a position as shown (see Fig. 4) andassumes a central position when the lever latch 12 is pressed, whichposition ismaintained until the lever L is moved to a left handposition, so that the lever latch 12 may be released at which time thepivot member assumes an upper extreme position. As the levers 16 and 11are controlled by the pivot member 80, then this motion is transmittedto the tappet bar link 8|, so that with the lever L in either extremeposition, the tappet bar 81 is caused to assume an extreme position, andwith the lever latch 12 compressed and the lever L in either extremeposition or any intermediate position, the tappet bar 81 is caused toassume a central or intermediate position. Thus,

the tappet bar 81 being controlled through tappet bar link 8| isoperated by the movement of the lever latch 12, or conversely, themechanical interlocking between the various tappet bars governs themovement of the lever latch 12 which in turn governs the movement of thelever L.

As alternate levers have their handle grips extending upward, the pivotmember 80, in such levers, will assume an upper position. with the leverL in the normal position and assume a lower position with the lever L ina reverse position. This condition causes alternate tappet bars. toassiune opposite extreme positions, that is, the tappet bars areoperated in an opposite direction upon actuation of their controllinglever latch.

The tappet bar link 8| has its upper end forked in such a manner thatthe tappet bar link passes on each side of the lever member Lb to engagethe lever members 16 and 11. The ends of the lever members 16 and 11engage the tappet bar link 8| within slots formed in the tappet bar link8| with the vertical motion of the tappet bar link 8| made possible b-ythe rounded end portions of the levers 16 and 11. The tappet bar link`8| is held into position against the bed member I6 by projections 'i8aand 19a on the support members 18 and 19 respectively. There are alsoprovided projections 181 and 191D upon the support members 18 and 19 toserve as a part of the guides of other tappet bar links (not shown) oneach side of the lever L.

Also associated with the operation of the latch 12 is the force dropelectric lock controlling contact 82, which is operated by the movementof a bar 83 which is pivoted to the lever member La o by a pin 88. Thebar 83 is moved in an upper direction, as seen in Fig. 4, by theengagement of the lever latch 12 with an adjustable stop 86 with themotion of lever 83 transmitted to the contact 82 through an insulatingmember 84. which engages` the movable spring contact 82, to force itagainst the fixed contact member 82a.

Thus, a compact organization and construction of interrelated devicesfor interlocking systems has been shown and described as forming theinterlocking machine of the present invention, with each deviceparticularly adapted to coact with every other device in a manner toaccomplish an eflicient control of a distant switch machine, a distantsignal or any other trac controlling device, with each device arrangedin a manner to facilitate in its inspection, adjustment and repair.

Having described one specific embodiment of the present invention, it isto be understood that various modications, adaptations and alterationsmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentinvention as demanded by the following claims.

Having described my invention, I now claim:-

1. In an interlocking machine for railroads, a plurality of verticallypositioned front frame members, a plurality of vertically positionedback frame members, a plurality of horizontal frame cross membersinterconnecting said right and left hand vertically positioned framemembers, mounting means comprising a plurality of bed membersinterconnecting said vertically positioned right and left hand framemembers and interconnecting said horizontal frame cross members, aplurality of mechanical and electromechanical interlocking controldevices mounted upon said mounting means, and a pit located between saidright and left hand vertically positioned frame members and below theiloorlevel GDE to accomplish accessability of said' plurality ofmechanical and electro-mechanical control devices.

2. In an interlocking machine for railroads, a plurality of controllevers for controlling the operation of distant railroad trafficregulating devices, a plurality of circuit controllers, a pit creating adepressed floor level between said control levers and said circuitcontrollers, and means operating said circuit controllers upon operationvof said control levers.

3. In an interlocking machine for railroads, aplurality'of slidablymounted control levers operating their respective trai'lic regulatingdevices, a plurality of slidably operated circuit controllers mounted atright angles to said control levers, andmeans operatively connectingeach circuit .controller with its respective control lever including, apivoted lever, a link pivotallyconnecting one end of said pivoted leverwith said circuit controller, and means slidably connecting the oppositeend of said pivoted lever to said control lever including, a cam slot insaid control lever.

4. In an interlocking machine for railroads, a plurality'of verticallydisposed mechanical interlocking plates, a plurality of slidablyoperated Ilatch locked control levers horizontally disposed, a pluralityof reciprocating circuit controllers operated by said control leversrespectively, a plurality 'of vertically disposed circuit controllers, apassage way between said vertically disposed mechanical interlockingplates and said vertically disposed circuit controllers, and beneathsaid horizontally disposed control levers, and means operativelyconnecting said latch locked control levers with said verticallydisposed circuit controllers respectively.

5. In an interlocking machine for railroads, a plurality of verticallypositioned right hand frame members, a plurality of right hand verticalbed members, `connecting said vertically positioned right hand framemembers, a plurality of slidably operated circuit controllers mountedupon said right hand vertical bed members, a plurality of verticallypositioned left hand frame members, a plurality of left hand verticalbed members, a plurality of mechanical interlocking plates mounted uponsaid left hand vertical bed members, a plurality of horizontal framecross members connecting said right hand and left hand vertical framemembers, a plurality of horizontal bed members connecting saidhorizontal frame members, a plurality of interlocking control devicesmounted upon said horizontal bed members, including, a plurality ofcontrol levers mechanically and electrically interlocked, a plurality ofelectric locks, a plurality of mechanical sticktype push buttons, aplurality of reciprocating circuit controllers, a plurality ofindication selectors, a pluraity of polarized cross protection relays, aplurality of fuse blocks, a plurality of indication latches, a pluralityof indication magnets, a plurality of safety magnets, means operablyconnecting said control levers with said slidably operated circuitcontrollers, and means operably controlling movement of said controllever including mechanical interlocking means mounted on said mechanicalinterlocking plates.

6. In an interlocking machine, a longitudinally slidably operatedcontrol lever, a `tappet bar operable at an angle thereto, a leverlatch, means controlled by said lever latch for directly locking saidcontrol lever against movement, and means operably controlling movementof said tappet bar, said last mentioned means governed by said controllever and said' lever latch. 'l

'7. In an interlocking machine, a longitudinally slidably operatedcontrol lever, a tappet lbar slidably operable in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said controllever, a lever latch, locking means con- 8. In an interlocking machine,a plurality of slidably operated control levers, a plurality ofvertically positioned interlocking plates, a plurality of tappet barsmounted on said interlocking plates being slidably operable in avertical direction and being mechanically interlocked,

a lever latch associated with each control lever, means operable forpreventing movement of each of said control levers with said meansoperably controlled by the respective said lever latches,

and means associated with each control Ylever operably controlling eachtappet bar associated with that lever, in a vertical direction with saidmeans operably controlled by said lever latch and passively controlledby said control lever.

9. In an interlocking machine, a slidably operated control lever, atappet bar operable in a vertical direction, a lever latch, meanscontrolled by said lever latch locking movement of said control lever,and means operably controlling movement of said tappet bar to oneextreme position Vwith said control lever locked in one extreme positionand said lever latch released, operably controlling movement of saidtappet bar to an intermediate position with said control lever in eitherextreme position or any interme- 'diate position and said leverlatchbeing actuated, and operably controlling movement of said tappetbar to an opposite extreme position-With said control lever in anopposite extreme position Vand said lever latch released. l0. In aninterlocking machine, plurality of slidably operable control levers, alever latch on each control lever,V mechanical interlocking meansgoverning movement of said control levers, means operably controlled bysaid lever latch for jointly locking said control lever and operatingsaid mechanical interlocking means, whereby said mechanical interlockingcan pre vent movement of said lever latch which in turn s preventsmovement of said control lever.V

1l. In an interlocking machine for railroads, a slidably operatedcontrol lever, a lever latch biased to one extreme position and-lockingsaid control lever only when in that biased position, a tappet bar, twocentrally pivoted levers controlling said tappet bar, means slidablyconnecting said two centrally pivoted levers to said lever latch, andmeans allowing said tappet bar to be controlled to an extreme positionbysaid lever latch biased to an extreme position and causing said leverlatch to control said tappet bar Ito an intermediate position with saidcontrol lever,` in an intermediate position. Y

12. In an interlocking machine, a longitudinally slidably operablecontrol lever, a tappet bar, a lever latch, means controlled by the4lever latch for directly locking the control lever against movement, andmeans operably interconnecting the tappet bar and the lever latch,

13. In an interlocking machine for railroads and the like, a slidablecontrol lever, a circuit controller positioned beyond one end of the1ever, a pivoted arm substantially parallelling the control lever, meansconnecting the arm and circuit controller at one end, and a pin and camslot connecting the other end of the arm and control lever.

14. In an interlocking machine, in combination, a longitudinallyslidable control lever, a tappet bar, a lever latch carried by thecontrol lever, means controlled by the lever latch for controllingmovement of the lever, and operable means interconnecting the tappet barand the latch.

15. In an interlocking machine, in combination, a longitudinallyslidable control lever, a tappet bar, a pivoted lever latch carried bythe control lever, pin and slot locking means controlled by the leverlatch for controlling movement of the lever, and operable meansinterconnecting the tappet bar and the latch.

16. In an interlocking machine, in combination, a slidable controllever, a tappet bar, a pivoted lever latch carried by the control lever,pin and slot locking means controlled by the lever latch for controllingmovement of the lever and operable means including a rod carrying thelock pin interconnecting the tappet bar and the latch.

17. A control lever, a hollow handle for operating the lever, a pivotedlatch carried by the lever adjacent the handle, biasing means for thelatch carried in the hollow handle, a slot in the leve, a lock pinmovable in the handle and the slot, and a connection between the pin andthe latch.

18. A slidable control'lever, a hollow handle for operating the lever, abiased pivoted latch carried by the lever adjacent the handle, a slot inthe lever, a lock pin in the handle and movable in the slot, and aconnection between the pin and the latch.

19. A slidable control lever, a handle for operating the lever, a biasedpivoted latch carried by the lever adjacent the handle, a Z-shaped slotin the lever, a lock pin movable in the slot, and a connection betweenthe pin and the latch whereby the pin is biased toward one or the otherof the end portions of the Z-shaped slot, the pin and the slotcooperating when the pin is in either of the end portions of theZ-shaped slot, to lock the lever against movement.

20. A slidable control lever, a handle for operating the lever, a biasedpivoted latch carried by the lever adjacent the handle, a slot in thelever, a lock pin movable in the slot, and a connection between the pinand the latch, the pin and the slot cooperating to at various positionslock the lever against movement, a tappet bar, and a rod carrying thelock pin and controlled. by the position of the tappet bar.

21. A control lever, a handle for operating the lever, a biased pivotedlatch caried by the lever adjacent the handle, a slot in the lever, alock pin movable in the slot, and a connection between the pin and thelatch, the pin and the slot cooperating to at various positions lock thelever against movement, a tappet bar, and a rod carrying the lock pinand controlled by the position of the tappet bar.

22. A control lever, a receiving frame in which the lever is movable, ahollow handle for operating the lever, a pivoted latch carried by thelever adjacent the handle, slots in the lever and the latch, a lock pincarried by the frame and movable in the slots and operable at times tolock the lever to the frame, the pin being movable by the latch.

WINTHROP K. HOWE.

